PAX Centurion - Winter 2016 - 2017

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • Winter 2016-2017 • Page 7 Vice President’s Message: Michael F. Leary, BPPA Vice President Yuletide grievances and bargaining From President on page 3 AMessage from the President… be pulled down into the despair of a few unhappy people, (they will always exist no matter what). I can assure you that we are indeed representing your best interest and will continue to do so. Have a healthy, prosperous and safe New Year! W ell, here we are, another year in the books with Christmas and NewYear fast approaching. Our workforce another year older and much more tired. Our workload has appeared to double with the amount of new assignments we are responsible for along with what appears to be a constant threat against us. The good news is that we have 80 new Recruits in the academy. With any luck we will graduate at least 65 or so in June just in time for the summer, (that will just about cover the 75 or 80 Patrolmen lost to ratings, promotions and retirements this past year). We have 40 or so new Cadets out in the districts and unit’s taking care of a little bit of the administrative load. Everyone in City Government is aware of the upcoming exodus of senior Patrolmen and assure us that they are working towards increasing our numbers within the ranks, that will be a welcome relief to the already overworked Patrol Force. Anyway, I want to wish you all a Healthy and Prosperous NewYear ahead. As always, I ask that you all look out for each other. Please back each other up at every call. Continue to check on each other during those long shifts. This job becomes more dangerous each and every day. Your number one priority has to be to get home safely to your loved ones each and every day! God Bless, stay safe! T O SAYTHIS HAS BEENABUSYYEARWOULD BEA GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT! We’ve moved into a new building, weathered storm-after-storm with the body-camera controversy, protests, mandatory-overtime, Verizon strikes, and a host of deadly assaults on police officers, both nationally and locally. But for the grace of God, fellow Boston police officers, EMT’s and outstanding physicians at the MGH, we may well have been without Matt Morris and Richie Cintolo. Compared to that horrible night on Gladstone St. in East Boston, everything else pales in comparison. However, because the subject has been so mangled due to miscommunication and rumor, I will briefly touch upon the issue of bargaining. Through the proverbial grapevine which weaves its way through various and sundry guardrooms, the rumor mill has been working overtime. We’ve heard everything from concrete wage percentages being offered – (but refused by the leadership for some unknown reasons!) to wildy-inaccurate rumors that are both laughable and pathetically sad. Police officers should be immediately suspect of rumors whispered through stations by unknown sources. Abasic ground rule is this: until something is in writing, listen to and believe NOTHING. Bargaining for a new contract is immensely difficult and complicated. Our membership wants many different things addressed, from wages to benefits and everything in between. Health and safety issues, medical insurance, education and seniority incentives; all of these items are of varied importance and often depend on the individual member’s priorities and needs at a given moment in time. Trying to satisfy the expectations and desires of the newest members and the oldest members is a difficult juggling act. Sometimes, in trying to please everyone, we please no one. But also remember that the City and the department have management desires, wants and needs. Some are real, and some are purely political in nature. While trying to advance as many of our member’s wants and needs, we are constantly battling the City trying to maintain current benefits and push back against management prerogatives. We are very much aware of the outstanding work that BPPAmembers perform every day, and we hope the City acknowledges that fine work at the bargaining table. If bargaining was as easy as simply showing the City the excellent work we do every day, we’d have no problem and a contract would be signed, sealed and delivered quickly. But it’s not… Politics, internal and external, always plays a role in bargaining, like it or not. It is a frustrating, time-consuming, often messy and difficult process. It’s often been compared to watching sausage being made. But rumors make the process much harder. Every time we hear one, we try to address the matter with the truth, and then another rumor is begun elsewhere. PLEASE: when something concrete is ready to be presented to the membership for consideration, it will first be placed before the BPPAHouse of Representatives who will initially decide whether the proposal is worthy for presentation to the members. Then, the proposal will be returned to the general body for discussion, debate, questions and answers and finally, hopefully, a vote. It is always our desire to have a contract that is voted on by the members rather than one that is decided at an arbitrator’s table. Arbitration is a last resort when impasse has been reached, but it is not a panacea. We can lose in arbitration, and have in the past. But please be assured that if and when a written proposal is worthy of your consideration, we will present it to you. Until then, please help us by stamping out rumors before they start. And the definition of a rumor is: anything that’s not in writing with a signature(s) affixed. We’re moving forward with a wide variety of grievances, some that affect individual members, some particular units or districts, and some that affect the whole membership. One matter of great importance is currently awaiting a decision from the Mass. SJC.: (the Dave Williams case). We certainly hope it is returned in our favor, it is that important. Most importantly, have a great Holiday with your families. Remember what is truly important. Back each other up, stay safe. Going home at the end of your tour is the top priority. Merry Christmas, one and all!